School Psychology Degree Online

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What is a Online Educational and School Psychology Degree Program?

Online educational psych degree programs focus on the theories behind learning and human development. These programs are mostly at the grad level. So, they build on prior learning in education or a related area.

Programs may focus on the practice of how to create an effective curriculum. For instance, you could study how to design, implement, and evaluate education programs. That includes planning interventions to influence learners’ behavior. And, expect to study how adaptations can help make learning more accessible to those with certain needs.

Research methods may also play a key role. That’s because research that deals with the theory and practice of education is central to solving problems in the field. This is even more true at the PhD level. Students may design research studies, interpret their findings, and share what they’ve discovered.

Look for educational psych programs like:

  • Master of Arts (M.A.) in Applied Educational Psychology
  • Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Psych
  • Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Psychology
  • PhD in Educational Psych
  • Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Psychology

You may also be able to choose a track or area of focus. These focus on the area of educational psych you’re interested in. Examples include: Development & Learning; Psychology and Education of Gifted Students; Evaluation, Measurement & Statistics; and more.

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SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS

B.S. in Early Childhood Education

A B.S. in Early Child Education program aims to prepare you to create a caring and enriching educational experience for children. Through field work and student teaching, you may work with staff, peers and families, to plan and evaluate interventions.

Course Examples:

  • Mathematics in Early Childhood
  • Assessment in Early Childhood
  • Creative Arts and Play Based Learning

Master of Science in School Psychology

This program aims to prepare students to work as school psychologists in elementary and secondary schools. School psychologists work with teachers, parents, and school personnel to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students.

Course Examples:

  • Psychological Foundation
  • Assessment
  • Intervention

School Psychology (Ph.D.)

This program aims to prepare students to work as school psychologists and may lead to eligibility for certification as a school psychologist and licensure as a psychologist.

Course Examples:

  • General Psychology
  • Child/Developmental Psychology
  • Educational Psychology

School psych programs share some over lapping curriculum with education psych programs. But, these programs often zero in on the skill areas needed for a school psych career path.

School psychologists must typically earn at least a Master’s degree. Both at the Master’s and PhD levels, programs focus on the education and mental health factors that impact students’ development.

Course work may span a few key areas: education, psych, and research. For instance, you may take courses in instructional design and assessment. This is a chance to explore how the classroom can be more effective for diverse learners.

In psych courses, you’ll examine things from psychopathology to interventions. You could study counseling strategies to help you work with students. And, you’ll explore professional standards and ethics for serving in this field.

Finally, research may be important to your program. So, you may encounter courses from field research to statistics.

Look for school psych programs like:

  • Master of Science (M.S.) in School Psych
  • Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in School Psychology
  • PhD in School Psych
  • Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in School Psychology

What Courses Could I Take in Education and School Psychology Programs? 

Though educational psychology and school psychology degree programs have many focuses, they

both take a deep dive into how people learn. Expect to study things from the theories behind learning and motivation to how the brain processes information. 

Other common courses include: 

Child and Adolescent Development: This course focuses on how children learn and grow. You’ll look at things from the social to the psychological aspects of a kid’s journey to adult hood. And, you’ll explore the implications for educators.

Testing, Measurement, and Assessment: Assessing students’ intelligence, personalities, and other characteristics is a big part of school and educational psych. This course covers the key theories, tools, and practices.

Working with Diverse Students: This course may go by many names, but it covers an essential topic. You’ll learn how students’ cultures and characteristics influence their educational experience. Expect to touch on areas like race, social class, gender, learning style, and beyond.

Research in the Social Sciences: This course covers how to understand research and conduct applied research. You’ll touch on the ethics of working with human subjects. And, you’ll learn practices and protocols specific to the social sciences.

How Long Does It Take to Earn a Degree in Educational Psychology and School Psychology?

Earning a Master’s in Psych can take about two years. A PhD can take between

three and seven years to earn.  

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EDUCATION AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM EXAMPLES

               
School
Degree Level# of Credits RequiredStart DatesMinimum Months to Complete
Northcentral University
Master’s3052 (weekly starts)20
Walden University
PhDVariesMultiple66

The Cost of an Education and School Psychology Degree Program

The 

NCES puts the average cost of attending a public, four year school at $19,189 per year. For private and for profit schools, the average cost per year was $39,529. Compare tuition for these schools that offer education or school psychology programs: 

              (per 3 credit course)       

 

School
Degree Level# of Credits RequiredCost Per CreditTotal Tuition Cost
Purdue University Global
Master’s52$420$21,840
Northcentral University
Master’s30$2,577$25,770
Walden University
PhD85 (min., for related MS entry)$585$49,725

Top Schools That Offer Education and School Psychology Online Degree Programs

DataUSA lists 209

 schools with school psych programs. From those schools, 3,158 degrees were awarded to students in 2017 (the most recent data).

  awarded       
School
2017 Degrees2019/20 Graduate Tuition (* unless out of state)
U of Cincinnati Main Campus304$26,994 
Brandman University82$12,440*
National University69$13,320*
CUNY Brooklyn College65$15,390
Rowan University52$22,832
Fordham University49$54,393*
The University of Texas at Tyler48$22,752
Teachers College at Columbia University46$40,800*
Chapman University44$54,924*
Yeshiva University43$44,900*

What Does it Take to Become a School Psychologist?

To go for a

school psych career path, you must earn an advanced degree along with certification or licensure. For instance, you could earn the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential. This is based on standards for the education and skill areas school psychs need to have. These include knowledge of learning and how a child develops, instruction strategies, and ethics.  

Credential requirements

also depend on your state. For instance, to become a school psych in a state like Delaware, you’d need to earn both a certificate and a license. (The cert is in school psych, and the license allows you to practice in state.) 

The certificate requires one of these:

 

  • Graduation from a school psych program approved by NASP or APA
  •  
  • The NCSP credential
  •  
  • A valid and current school psych credential from another state
  •  

Always check with your state to make sure you are heading down the right path!

 

What Can You Do with an Educational Psychology and School Psychology Degree?

Accordin

g to the most recent data, the work force for this field has over 2.6 million psych grads. That includes those who earned degrees in educational psychology and school psychology.  

Psychologists should see

faster than average job growth. A projected 14% more roles may be added by 2026. School psych roles may see growth because of increased awareness about mental health issues. Schools now realize learning and mental health are connected. And, they see the importance of serving students with learning differences and special needs. So, they may need school psychs to asses and counsel students, plus study the factors that impact learning. 

Wondering about the traits of a typical psych grad? The average age of an employee in this field was 41.1 years old.

And, females were much more likely than males to hold this degree. Nearly 78% of degree holders were women. 

Top Salaries by State for School Psychologists

The following data is for counseling, clinical, and school psychologists.

Salary and employment numbers will differ for other psych career paths.

  Mean Wage 
State
EmploymentAnnual 
California17,310$108,350
Oregon1,040$103,870
New Jersey3,760$98,470
District of Columbia710$95,500
Hawaii450$94,550

Jobs with an Educational Psychology and School Psychology Degree

School Psychologist 

School Psychs study and treat 

education and development disorders. They play a key role in schools by dealing with learning and behavior problems, and also by helping to counsel students and their families. They may even work with school staff to improve teaching and admin practices.   

Median Salary: $79,010

 per year

Job Growth Through 2028: 1

4% (Much faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: Maste

r’s degree

School Counselor 

School Counselors help students succeed in school. That includes being able to work with them to

grow their academic, social, and decision making skills. Counselors may work with students at many grade levels. For instance, high school counselors may help students plan for college and their careers, along with other things.  

Median Salary: $56,310 

per year

Job Growth Through 2028: 8% (Faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: Master’s degree

Instructional Coordinator  

Instructional Coordinators oversee school curricula to make sure they are effective. They may design and plan classes, as well as train educators to teach it. They also assess the curriculum and assess student progress. Often, they focus on a certain

subject or grade level.  

Median Salary: $64,450

 per year

Job Growth Through 2028: 6% (As fast as average)

Typical Entry level Education: Master’s degree

© Education Connection 2023. All Rights Reserved.

*https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d20/tables/dt20_311.15.asp

Sources for school statistics is the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.

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